ABSTRACT
ALTHOUGHELEMENTSOFNeolithicculturesuchasground stoneaxesoccasionallyreachedsomepartsofSouthernAfrica duringthesecondhalfoftheLaterStoneAge,whichlastedfrom about6500BCuntilthecomingofironintheChristianera,this ageisgenerallycountedthroughoutthesub-continentas equivalenttot h e Mesolithic,becauseitsindustrieswere essentiallytheworkofhuntersandfood-gatherers.Afewofthe latergroupsherdedcattlebutthereisnocertainevidenceof cultivationofplantsinanypartofsouthernAfricabeforethe IronAge.
